The coronavirus pandemic has changed the business world forever. Even company executives who were resistant to remote work or even the occasional work-from-home day are realizing that their companies can operate without everyone needing to be in the office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some companies may ditch their office spaces altogether and allow people to work from home permanently or have a rotating schedule to limit the number of people in the office at a time. Whether you just started a remote job, are searching now, or will make moves in the future, it will be helpful to know how to set yourself up for success if you are starting a remote job.
Understand expectations:
Whenever you start a remote job, it is a good idea to meet with your boss to learn her expectations, what success looks like for your role, and to set tangible goals you can work toward. Your boss might not be used to checking in and providing feedback when she doesn’t see you face-to-face in the office. Be proactive and ask to set up a short weekly one-on-one meeting to see what you are doing well and what you can work on and to share your progress and goals. Similarly, before starting a new project or assignment, understand what your boss expects and when it is due, and ask any clarifying questions.
Get to know your team:
When you are in the office, it is easier to observe the workplace culture, how your team works, and the goals and objectives of the organization. It is also easier to get to know your coworkers, but you can still establish strong working relationships when you are all working from home. If you have a small team, send an email to each person to introduce yourself and say that you are excited to work with them. Normally, you’d sit next to a peer, go to lunch together, or chat before or after your meetings. Recreate that by asking a few people on the same level as you if they have time for a 10-minute phone call, videoconference, or a “virtual lunch.” You’ll get a chance to learn more about how the team operates like how people communicate remotely – is it all through email, through Slack, or do people pick up the phone and call? – and you’ll have someone to turn to when you inevitably have questions.
Impress your coworkers at your remote job:
The best way to make a good first impression at a remote job is to impress people by doing a great job and being great to work with. The soft skills that will impress people the most in the “remote work world” are communication, time management, independence, and prioritization. Reread all your emails and chat messages before sending them to see if there are ways you can organize the information more clearly like by having lists, bullet points, and action items. Check in with your manager and people you work closely with more often than you might otherwise keep them aware of what you are working on and what you’ve finished, and ask if there is anything else you can help with. Better yet, if you see projects that need to be done or ways something can improve, offer to tackle them. Your coworkers will be impressed by your organization, dedication, and proactivity.
